The lost rides of Alton towers pt.1: Black Hole

The Black Hole was a Schwarzkopf Jet Star II coaster, originally built for the 1984 season, and became the park's second full size roller coaster. For the construction, over 250,000 tons of earth was excavated from the area that in previous seasons had been home to the Dinosaurs display. Being housed inside a massive tent, the coaster was hidden from view, shrouding it in mystery. The track layout was actually very similar to that used on both the Alton Beast and the New Beast, both of which have now been removed. The ride was very well themed, and used the darkness well, with added lighting effects to add to the atmosphere. During the mid-ninties the whole ride is said to have been removed, and transported to Europe where it had an overhaul, which then allowed the ride to use dual car trains. The outside of the tent received a major paint job when Fantasy World became X-Sector in 1998. Its original colour scheme was a strange green and yellow, compared to the black and silver of the late nineties.

Being shrouded in complete darkness, the Black Hole is one of the most difficult rides to describe. The experience began when you entered the claustrophobic tunnel that took you into the loading station. On entering the station, you took up your position in one of the bays, indicated by the lights in the floor. When a car arrived, you could take your seat.

Once on your way, you now had a good few seconds while the cars powered themselves up the winding lift hill. Special lighting effects and sound helped to make the trundle up the hill bearable. Soon, the track levelled out, then suddenly dropped sharply, and you plummeted into the unknown. Sweeping bends and sudden drops were now the main course as you were thrown from one side of the car to the other, taken through star systems, black holes and nebulae.

Eventually you reached the brake run. Here you headed toward a very bright light, throwing your fellow passengers into silhouette in front of you.

Slowly you made your way into the unloading station, which was separate from the loading station. Just outside here, you could purchase your on-ride photo.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Alton
• towers
• Black
• Hole

[ReallyRollercoaster]

Nobody ever died on the Black Hole.

[MimiVanTassel]

This was my fave ride when I was kid, apart from it was on of those rides that if you're in an odd numbered group you could end up sitting between the thighs of the stranger next to you in the queue. THAT was the scariest thing about it!

[richard2590w]

i heard someone got decapitated :/

[monkeysound1]

@emmyemma101 no.

black hole was before enterprise and the tent / building that black hole was in is still there today, enterprise is next to the tent / building thing

[BRITBABE1983]

The ride is still standing, the entrance is just all closed off.. very errie..

[Jonnybobman]

didnt someone die on it????

[DelanceyVids]

I rode this as a single rider, had to constantly fight gravity to stop myself from falling out. If I'd been older at the time I would have complained or at least strongly suggested they not allow single riders.

[emmyemma101]

Am i right in saying this took the place of enterprise?

[billyrae1000]

Sold to Furuvik Zoo and Amusement Park in Sweeden

as roket

[billyrae1000]

Edit. Was sold to Gerstauler not schwarzkopf.

Here is the ride all refurbished but i don't know where.

[billyrae1000]

Black hole was removed and sold back to Schwarzkopf who have refurbished it and sold it on.It was closed due to it needing a refurb due to the fact that health n saftey wanted Alton to install an emergency exit at the top of the ride,all of which was deemed to expensive.

The Black hole will reopen next year (2012)with a new ride.This will be put back till 2014 if the plans for SW7 due to open in 2013 have any problems.

[Slankyness]

Was this is a rumour going around that some guy got his hand/part of his fingers sliced off on this ride thats why they had to close it due to health and saftey on top of it being unreliable?